Panchayat raises alarm over pollution, road damage and khazan land degradation
A fleet of fishing vessels docked in the river at Rachol.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Officials of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) have finally inspected the parking of fishing vessels in River Sal at Rachol village.
The Rachol Panchayat had lodged a complaint with the GCZMA to carry out an inspection of the fishing vessels parked in the river, since the activity has caused nuisance as well as pollution in the village.
Sarpanch Joseph Vaz later told the media that the GCZMA officials have promised to issue notices to the owners who have parked their fishing vessels in Rachol village to show cause whether they have permissions from concerned departments to park their vessels in the village.
Saying that Rachol village cannot be the parking place for the Vasco-based fishing vessels, Sarpanch Joseph Vaz said that waste generated by the presence of the vessels finds its way into the khazan fields, destroying the agricultural lands.
“Every time waste finds its way into the khazan lands, locals are forced to clear the waste. Secondly, the vehicles used to transport manpower and fishing nets damage the narrow village roads, besides the football ground. Why should the village suffer because of these outside fishing vessels?” he questioned.
Saying the presence of a fleet of fishing vessels in the river has come in the way of local fishermen parking their fishing canoes, Joseph Vaz further pointed out that locals fear moving out in the evenings due to the presence of migrant labourers employed as crew members on the vessels.
The Rachol Sarpanch has threatened to stage protests in the event departments such as the GCZMA or Health do not intervene and put an end to the parking of fishing vessels.
